Home · Atherinidae · Inland hardyhead
Inland hardyhead (Craterocephalus centralis) — Atherinidae

Inland hardyhead

Craterocephalus centralis
Family: Atherinidae

The Inland hardyhead (Craterocephalus centralis) is a freshwater fish of the family Atherinidae that grows up to 8 cm.

Length
7.5 cm
Water
Freshwater
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: Australia

Want the complete picture on the Inland hardyhead?

Get the app

Description

The Inland hardyhead is a hardyhead silverside (Atherinidae) from fresh and brackish inland water of the inland waters of central Australia. The species grows to about 7 cm and has a slender, semi-translucent, silvery body with a shiny silver flank band and large eyes. As a schooling fish it swims in large groups near the surface of rivers, pools and lakes and snaps at small zooplankton and insect larvae. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Inland hardyhead?

The Inland hardyhead has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Inland hardyhead live?

The Inland hardyhead lives in fresh water and is mostly found around open water. Oceania: Australia

How big does the Inland hardyhead get?

The Inland hardyhead grows to a maximum of about 8 cm.

Is the Inland hardyhead dangerous to humans?

No, the Inland hardyhead is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Inland hardyhead?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Inland hardyhead is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Inland hardyhead sourced
Scientific name
Craterocephalus centralis
Family
Atherinidae
Other names
Finke river hardyhead; Finke River Hardyhead; Finke hardyhead verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
7.5 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Natural range
Oceania: Australia sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Craterocephalus

More from the family Atherinidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Inland hardyhead?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Inland hardyhead is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Inland hardyhead? Get the app